The Pittsburgh Pipers won the ABA championship in the playoffs after posting the league's best record during the regular season (54–24, .692). The Minnesota Muskies had the league's second best record, but they played in the Eastern Division with the Pipers.
None of the four teams that made it to the Division finals (and ABA finals) remained as they were during this season throughout the league's entire existence. The Pittsburgh Pipers spent the following season as the Minnesota Pipers, returned to play as the Pittsburgh Pipers the year after that, and then played two seasons as the Pittsburgh Condors before folding in 1972. After three seasons the New Orleans Buccaneers left town and became the Memphis Pros in 1970. The Minnesota Muskies spent the next two seasons as the Miami Floridians and then spent two seasons after that as The Floridians before folding in 1972. The Dallas Chaparrals eventually became the San Antonio Spurs, continuing to this day in the NBA.
The Kentucky Colonels won the last Eastern Division playoff berth in a one-game playoff over the New Jersey Americans by forfeit when the venue chosen by the Americans, Commack Arena, had an unplayable floor.
Connie Hawkins of the Pittsburgh Pipers was the Most Valuable Player of the ABA playoffs.
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The 1968 ABA Playoffs was the postseason tournament following the American Basketball Association s inaugural 1967 1968 season starting on March 23 and ending on May 4 The tournament concluded with the Eastern Division champion Pittsburgh Pipers defeating the Western Division champion New Orleans Buccaneers four games to three in the ABA Finals 1968 ABA playoffsTournament detailsDatesMarch 23 May 4 1968Season1967 68Teams8Final positionsChampionsPittsburgh Pipers 1st title Runner upNew Orleans BuccaneersSemifinalistsMinnesota MuskiesDallas Chaparrals1969 Division SemifinalsDivision FinalsABA Finals 1New Orleans Bucs 33Denver Rockets21New Orleans Bucs 4Western Division2Dallas Chaparrals14Houston Mavericks02Dallas Chaparrals3W1New Orleans Bucs 3E1Pittsburgh Pipers 41Pittsburgh Pipers 33Indiana Pacers01Pittsburgh Pipers 4Eastern Division2Minnesota Muskies14Kentucky Colonels22Minnesota Muskies3 Division winner Bold Series winner Italic Team with home court advantage Contents 1 Notable events 2 Division Semifinals 2 1 Eastern Division Semifinals 2 1 1 1 Pittsburgh Pipers vs 3 Indiana Pacers 2 1 2 2 Minnesota Muskies vs 4 Kentucky Colonels 2 2 Western Division Semifinals 2 2 1 1 New Orleans Buccaneers vs 3 Denver Rockets 2 2 2 2 Dallas Chaparrals vs 4 Houston Mavericks 3 Division Finals 3 1 Eastern Division Finals 3 1 1 1 Pittsburgh Pipers vs 2 Minnesota Muskies 3 2 Western Division Finals 3 2 1 1 New Orleans Buccaneers vs 2 Dallas Chaparrals 4 ABA Finals W1 New Orleans Buccaneers vs E1 Pittsburgh Pipers 4 1 Series summary 4 2 Series results 5 External linksNotable events editThis was the first ABA championship The Pittsburgh Pipers won the ABA championship in the playoffs after posting the league s best record during the regular season 54 24 692 The Minnesota Muskies had the league s second best record but they played in the Eastern Division with the Pipers None of the four teams that made it to the Division finals and ABA finals remained as they were during this season throughout the league s entire existence The Pittsburgh Pipers spent the following season as the Minnesota Pipers returned to play as the Pittsburgh Pipers the year after that and then played two seasons as the Pittsburgh Condors before folding in 1972 After three seasons the New Orleans Buccaneers left town and became the Memphis Pros in 1970 The Minnesota Muskies spent the next two seasons as the Miami Floridians and then spent two seasons after that as The Floridians before folding in 1972 The Dallas Chaparrals eventually became the San Antonio Spurs continuing to this day in the NBA The Kentucky Colonels won the last Eastern Division playoff berth in a one game playoff over the New Jersey Americans by forfeit when the venue chosen by the Americans Commack Arena had an unplayable floor Connie Hawkins of the Pittsburgh Pipers was the Most Valuable Player of the ABA playoffs Division Semifinals editEastern Division Semifinals edit 1 Pittsburgh Pipers vs 3 Indiana Pacers edit March 25 Boxscore Indiana Pacers 127 Pittsburgh Pipers 146 Pts Roger Brown 32Rebs Roger Brown 12 Pts Connie Hawkins 38Rebs Trooper Washington 20Pittsburgh leads series 1 0 Civic Arena Pittsburgh Pennsylvania March 26 Boxscore Indiana Pacers 108 Pittsburgh Pipers 121 Pts Freddie Lewis 21Rebs Ollie Darden 16 Pts Art Heyman 32Rebs Trooper Washington 15Pittsburgh leads series 2 0 Civic Arena Pittsburgh Pennsylvania March 27 Boxscore Pittsburgh Pipers 133 Indiana Pacers 114 Pts Charlie Williams 34Rebs Connie Hawkins 15 Pts Freddie Lewis 32Rebs George Peeples 20Pittsburgh wins series 3 0 Indiana Farmers Coliseum Indianapolis Indiana Regular season series Pittsburgh won 6 4 in the regular season series November 7 1967 Report Indiana Pacers 100 Pittsburgh Pipers 83 Civic Arena Pittsburgh November 16 1967 Report Pittsburgh Pipers 116 Indiana Pacers 90 Indiana Farmers Coliseum Indianapolis December 3 1967 Report Indiana Pacers 100 Pittsburgh Pipers 103 Civic Arena Pittsburgh December 16 1967 Report Pittsburgh Pipers 122 Indiana Pacers 117 Indiana Farmers Coliseum Indianapolis December 31 1967 Report Indiana Pacers 106 Pittsburgh Pipers 121 Civic Arena Pittsburgh January 11 1968 Report Indiana Pacers 115 Pittsburgh Pipers 138 Civic Arena Pittsburgh January 13 1968 Report Pittsburgh Pipers 99 Indiana Pacers 113 Indiana Farmers Coliseum Indianapolis January 17 1968 Report Pittsburgh Pipers 137 Indiana Pacers 101 Indiana Farmers Coliseum Indianapolis January 31 1968 Report Pittsburgh Pipers 113 Indiana Pacers 119 Indiana Farmers Coliseum Indianapolis February 6 1968 Report Indiana Pacers 113 Pittsburgh Pipers 100 Civic Arena Pittsburgh This was the first playoff meeting between the Pipers and the Pacers 2 Minnesota Muskies vs 4 Kentucky Colonels edit March 24 Boxscore Kentucky Colonels 102 Minnesota Muskies 115 Pts Darel Carrier 29Rebs Carrier Ligon Rhine 8 each Pts Mel Daniels 44Rebs Mel Daniels 15Minnesota leads series 1 0 Met Center Bloomington Minnesota March 26 Boxscore Kentucky Colonels 100 Minnesota Muskies 95 Pts Louie Dampier 24Rebs Jim Caldwell 21 Pts Donnie Freeman 30Rebs Daniels Freeman Hunter Smith 8 eachSeries tied 1 1 Met Center Bloomington Minnesota March 27 Boxscore Minnesota Muskies 116 Kentucky Colonels 107 Pts Les Hunter 38Rebs Les Hunter 21 Pts Louie Dampier 32Rebs Jim Caldwell 9Minnesota leads series 2 1 Louisville Convention Center Louisville Kentucky March 29 Boxscore Minnesota Muskies 86 Kentucky Colonels 94 Pts Daniels Smith 22 eachRebs Mel Daniels 22 Pts Darel Carrier 29Rebs Jim Ligon 21Series tied 2 2 Louisville Convention Center Louisville Kentucky March 30 Boxscore Kentucky Colonels 108 Minnesota Muskies 114 Pts Louie Dampier 33Rebs Jim Caldwell 11 Pts Ervin Inniger 33Rebs Mel Daniels 19Minnesota wins series 3 2 Met Center Bloomington Minnesota Regular season series Tied 5 5 in the regular season series October 22 1967 Report Kentucky Colonels 104 Minnesota Muskies 96 Met Center Bloomington October 29 1967 Report Kentucky Colonels 81 Minnesota Muskies 94 Met Center Bloomington November 8 1967 Report Minnesota Muskies 106 Kentucky Colonels 92 Louisville Convention Center Louisville November 14 1967 Report Kentucky Colonels 75 Minnesota Muskies 125 Met Center Bloomington December 12 1967 Report Minnesota Muskies 94 Kentucky Colonels 113 Louisville Convention Center Louisville January 8 1968 Report Minnesota Muskies 103 Kentucky Colonels 107 Louisville Convention Center Louisville January 23 1968 Report Kentucky Colonels 97 Minnesota Muskies 120 Met Center Bloomington February 2 1968 Report Minnesota Muskies 84 Kentucky Colonels 120 Louisville Convention Center Louisville February 5 1968 Report Minnesota Muskies 86 Kentucky Colonels 95 Louisville Convention Center Louisville February 27 1968 Report Kentucky Colonels 93 Minnesota Muskies 102 Met Center Bloomington This was the first playoff meeting between the Muskies and the Colonels Western Division Semifinals edit 1 New Orleans Buccaneers vs 3 Denver Rockets edit March 26 Boxscore Denver Rockets 104 New Orleans Buccaneers 130 Pts Larry Jones 29 Pts Larry Brown 31New Orleans leads series 1 0 Loyola Field House New Orleans Louisiana March 27 Boxscore Denver Rockets 93 New Orleans Buccaneers 105 Pts Willie Murrell 21 Pts Jimmy Jones 22New Orleans leads series 2 0 Loyola Field House New Orleans Louisiana March 30 Boxscore New Orleans Buccaneers 98 Denver Rockets 105 Pts Doug Moe 22 Pts Wayne Hightower 28New Orleans leads series 2 1 Denver Auditorium Arena Denver Colorado March 31 Boxscore New Orleans Buccaneers 100 Denver Rockets 108 Pts Doug Moe 27 Pts Willie Murrell 28Series tied 2 2 Denver Auditorium Arena Denver Colorado April 3 Boxscore Denver Rockets 97 New Orleans Buccaneers 102 Pts Willie Murrell 26 Pts Larry Brown 24New Orleans wins series 3 2 Loyola Field House New Orleans Louisiana Regular season series Tied 5 5 in the regular season series November 11 1967 Report Denver Rockets 107 New Orleans Buccaneers 131 Loyola Field House New Orleans November 21 1967 Report Denver Rockets 90 New Orleans Buccaneers 107 Loyola Field House New Orleans December 15 1967 Report New Orleans Buccaneers 100 Denver Rockets 93 Denver Auditorium Arena Denver January 4 1968 Report New Orleans Buccaneers 107 Denver Rockets 122 Denver Auditorium Arena Denver January 18 1968 Report New Orleans Buccaneers 97 Denver Rockets 126 Denver Auditorium Arena Denver January 26 1968 Report Denver Rockets 104 New Orleans Buccaneers 97 Loyola Field House New Orleans February 4 1968 Report New Orleans Buccaneers 105 Denver Rockets 100 Denver Auditorium Arena Denver February 11 1968 Report Denver Rockets 90 New Orleans Buccaneers 98 Loyola Field House New Orleans February 23 1968 Report Denver Rockets 108 New Orleans Buccaneers 102 Loyola Field House New Orleans March 18 1968 Report New Orleans Buccaneers 101 Denver Rockets 108 Denver Auditorium Arena Denver This was the first playoff meeting between the Buccaneers and the Rockets 2 Dallas Chaparrals vs 4 Houston Mavericks edit March 23 Boxscore Houston Mavericks 110 Dallas Chaparrals 111 Pts Willie Somerset 42 Pts John Beasley 28Dallas leads series 1 0 Dallas Memorial Auditorium Dallas Texas March 25 Boxscore Houston Mavericks 97 Dallas Chaparrals 115 Pts Willie Somerset 40 Pts Charlie Beasley 27Dallas leads series 2 0 Dallas Memorial Auditorium Dallas Texas March 26 Boxscore Dallas Chaparrals 116 Houston Mavericks 103 Pts John Beasley 31 Pts Art Becker 26Dallas wins series 3 0 Sam Houston Coliseum Houston Texas Regular season series Dallas won 8 2 in the regular season series October 23 1967 Report Dallas Chaparrals 100 Houston Mavericks 83 Sam Houston Coliseum Houston November 17 1967 Report Houston Mavericks 107 Dallas Chaparrals 116 Dallas Memorial Auditorium Dallas November 19 1967 Report Dallas Chaparrals 100 Houston Mavericks 94 Sam Houston Coliseum Houston January 12 1968 Report Houston Mavericks 99 Dallas Chaparrals 107 Dallas Memorial Auditorium Dallas January 19 1968 Report Houston Mavericks 92 Dallas Chaparrals 102 Dallas Memorial Auditorium Dallas January 26 1968 Report Houston Mavericks 96 Dallas Chaparrals 122 Dallas Memorial Auditorium Dallas February 18 1968 Report Dallas Chaparrals 93 Houston Mavericks 110 Sam Houston Coliseum Houston February 21 1968 Report Dallas Chaparrals 122 Houston Mavericks 119 Sam Houston Coliseum Houston February 29 1968 Report Dallas Chaparrals 100 Houston Mavericks 101 Sam Houston Coliseum Houston March 8 1968 Report Houston Mavericks 116 Dallas Chaparrals 117 Dallas Memorial Auditorium Dallas This was the first playoff meeting between the Chaparrals and the Mavericks Division Finals editEastern Division Finals edit 1 Pittsburgh Pipers vs 2 Minnesota Muskies edit April 4 Boxscore Minnesota Muskies 117 Pittsburgh Pipers 125 Pts Mel Daniels 28Rebs Mel Daniels 18 Pts Art Heyman 34Rebs Connie Hawkins 15Pittsburgh leads series 1 0 Civic Arena Pittsburgh Pennsylvania April 6 Boxscore Minnesota Muskies 137 Pittsburgh Pipers 123 Pts Hunter Daniels 38 eachRebs Mel Daniels 27 Pts Williams Hawkins 27 eachRebs Trooper Washington 35Series tied 1 1 Civic Arena Pittsburgh Pennsylvania April 10 Boxscore Pittsburgh Pipers 107 Minnesota Muskies 99 Pts Connie Hawkins 32 Pts Les Hunter 27Pittsburgh leads series 2 1 Met Center Bloomington Minnesota Minnesota April 13 Boxscore Pittsburgh Pipers 117 Minnesota Muskies 108 Pts Connie Hawkins 38 Pts Skip Thoren 22Pittsburgh leads series 3 1 Met Center Bloomington Minnesota Minnesota April 14 Boxscore Minnesota Muskies 105 Pittsburgh Pipers 114 Pts Donnie Freeman 23Rebs Skip Thoren 13Asts Donnie Freeman 11 Pts Connie Hawkins 24Rebs Leroy Wright 17Pittsburgh wins series 4 1 Civic Arena Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Regular season series Pittsburgh won 7 4 in the regular season series October 24 1967 Report Minnesota Muskies 104 Pittsburgh Pipers 86 Civic Arena Pittsburgh November 9 1967 Report Minnesota Muskies 86 Pittsburgh Pipers 97 Civic Arena Pittsburgh November 23 1967 Report Pittsburgh Pipers 75 Minnesota Muskies 101 Met Center Bloomington Minnesota December 10 1967 Report Pittsburgh Pipers 114 Minnesota Muskies 99 Met Center Bloomington Minnesota December 17 1967 Report Pittsburgh Pipers 121 Minnesota Muskies 116 OT Met Center Bloomington Minnesota January 12 1968 Report Pittsburgh Pipers 103 Minnesota Muskies 120 Met Center Bloomington Minnesota January 26 1968 Report Minnesota Muskies 107 Pittsburgh Pipers 115 Civic Arena Pittsburgh January 30 1968 Report Minnesota Muskies 112 Pittsburgh Pipers 121 Civic Arena Pittsburgh February 4 1968 Report Pittsburgh Pipers 95 Minnesota Muskies 114 Met Center Bloomington Minnesota February 19 1968 Report Pittsburgh Pipers 120 Minnesota Muskies 115 Met Center Bloomington Minnesota February 23 1968 Report Minnesota Muskies 102 Pittsburgh Pipers 110 Civic Arena Pittsburgh This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams Western Division Finals edit 1 New Orleans Buccaneers vs 2 Dallas Chaparrals edit April 5 Boxscore Dallas Chaparrals 99 New Orleans Buccaneers 104 Pts John Beasley 27 Pts Doug Moe 28New Orleans leads series 1 0 Loyola Field House New Orleans Louisiana April 9 Boxscore Dallas Chaparrals 112 New Orleans Buccaneers 109 Pts Charlie Beasley 31 Pts Doug Moe 30Series tied 1 1 Loyola Field House New Orleans Louisiana April 10 Boxscore New Orleans Buccaneers 110 Dallas Chaparrals 107 Pts Larry Brown 25 Pts Cincy Powell 33New Orleans leads series 2 1 Dallas Memorial Auditorium Dallas Texas April 11 Boxscore New Orleans Buccaneers 119 Dallas Chaparrals 103 Pts Jesse Branson 26 Pts Maurice McHartley 26New Orleans leads series 3 1 Dallas Memorial Auditorium Dallas Texas April 13 Boxscore Dallas Chaparrals 107 New Orleans Buccaneers 108 Pts Cincy Powell 27 Pts Larry Brown 27New Orleans wins series 4 1 Loyola Field House New Orleans Louisiana Regular season series New Orleans won 6 4 in the regular season series October 27 1967 Report Dallas Chaparrals 97 New Orleans Buccaneers 101 Loyola Field House New Orleans December 10 1967 Report Dallas Chaparrals 110 New Orleans Buccaneers 125 Loyola Field House New Orleans December 12 1967 Report New Orleans Buccaneers 109 Dallas Chaparrals 105 Dallas Memorial Auditorium Dallas December 19 1967 Report New Orleans Buccaneers 96 Dallas Chaparrals 93 Dallas Memorial Auditorium Dallas January 7 1968 Report New Orleans Buccaneers 101 Dallas Chaparrals 113 Dallas Memorial Auditorium Dallas January 23 1968 Report Dallas Chaparrals 104 New Orleans Buccaneers 112 Loyola Field House New Orleans January 24 1968 Report Dallas Chaparrals 94 New Orleans Buccaneers 112 Loyola Field House New Orleans January 25 1968 Report Dallas Chaparrals 102 New Orleans Buccaneers 101 Loyola Field House New Orleans February 15 1968 Report New Orleans Buccaneers 113 Dallas Chaparrals 121 OT Dallas Memorial Auditorium Dallas March 14 1968 Report New Orleans Buccaneers 87 Dallas Chaparrals 90 Dallas Memorial Auditorium Dallas This was the first playoff meeting between the Buccaneers and the Chaparrals ABA Finals W1 New Orleans Buccaneers vs E1 Pittsburgh Pipers editSeries summary edit Game Date Away team Result Home team Game 1 April 18 New Orleans Buccaneers 112 120 0 1 Pittsburgh Pipers Game 2 April 20 New Orleans Buccaneers 109 100 1 1 Pittsburgh Pipers Game 3 April 24 Pittsburgh Pipers 101 109 1 2 New Orleans Buccaneers Game 4 April 25 Pittsburgh Pipers 106 105 OT 2 2 New Orleans Buccaneers Game 5 April 27 New Orleans Buccaneers 111 108 3 2 Pittsburgh Pipers Game 6 May 1 Pittsburgh Pipers 118 112 3 3 New Orleans Buccaneers Game 7 May 4 New Orleans Buccaneers 113 122 3 4 Pittsburgh Pipers Series results edit April 18 Boxscore New Orleans Buccaneers 112 Pittsburgh Pipers 120 Pts Red Robbins 41Rebs Red Robbins 23 Pts Connie Hawkins 39Rebs Washington Wright 11 eachPittsburgh leads series 1 0 Civic Arena Pittsburgh Pennsylvania April 20 Boxscore New Orleans Buccaneers 109 Pittsburgh Pipers 100 Pts Larry Brown 28Rebs Red Robbins 23 Pts Chico Vaughn 27Rebs Trooper Washington 17Series tied 1 1 Civic Arena Pittsburgh Pennsylvania April 24 Boxscore Pittsburgh Pipers 101 New Orleans Buccaneers 109 Pts Chico Vaughn 27Rebs Trooper Washington 14 Pts Red Robbins 30Rebs Red Robbins 22New Orleans leads series 2 1 Loyola Field House New Orleans Louisiana April 25 Boxscore Pittsburgh Pipers 106 New Orleans Buccaneers 105 OT Pts Connie Hawkins 47Rebs Trooper Washington 25 Pts Jimmy Jones 23Rebs Red Robbins 10Series tied 2 2 Loyola Field House New Orleans Louisiana April 27 Boxscore New Orleans Buccaneers 111 Pittsburgh Pipers 108 Pts Doug Moe 31 Pts Williams Hawkins 29 eachNew Orleans leads series 3 2 Civic Arena Pittsburgh Pennsylvania May 1 Boxscore Pittsburgh Pipers 118 New Orleans Buccaneers 112 Pts Connie Hawkins 41Rebs Trooper Washington 16 Pts Doug Moe 25Rebs Red Robbins 11Series tied 3 3 Loyola Field House New Orleans Louisiana May 4 Boxscore New Orleans Buccaneers 113 Pittsburgh Pipers 122 Pts Doug Moe 28Rebs Red Robbins 13 Pts Williams Hawkins 35 eachRebs Trooper Washington 14Pittsburgh wins series 4 3 Civic Arena Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Regular season series Tied 3 3 in the regular season series October 30 1967 Report New Orleans Buccaneers 128 Pittsburgh Pipers 99 Civic Arena Pittsburgh November 17 1967 Report New Orleans Buccaneers 94 Pittsburgh Pipers 95 Civic Arena Pittsburgh November 28 1967 Report Pittsburgh Pipers 99 New Orleans Buccaneers 106 Loyola Field House New Orleans January 19 1968 Report New Orleans Buccaneers 126 Pittsburgh Pipers 132 Civic Arena Pittsburgh February 17 1968 Report New Orleans Buccaneers 121 Pittsburgh Pipers 129 Civic Arena Pittsburgh March 8 1968 Report Pittsburgh Pipers 114 New Orleans Buccaneers 116 Loyola Field House New Orleans This was the first playoff meeting between the Pipers and the Buccaneers nbsp Sports portalExternal links editRememberTheABA com page on 1968 ABA playoffs Basketball Reference com s 1968 ABA Playoffs page Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1968 ABA Playoffs amp oldid 1209003653, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
